​VOLUNTEER

​Interested in volunteering? Submit our online volunteer application, which can be found at the end of this page. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Patrick Boyle, at pboyle@unidetroit.org with any questions.

Linda Cortez is a community volunteer who spends countless hours working to make the neighborhood safer. She is the president of the West Vernor Civilian Patrol and has been involved with the patrol since its creation two years ago.

The patrol’s purpose is to be the eyes and ears of the City of Detroit. Citizens volunteer to observe activity in the neighborhood and communicate that activity to the police department. Linda says that if she can help someone get out of a dangerous situation by alerting local police of a situation, she’s willing to do it. Linda was approached by Congress of Communities to help start the patrol and talks about how it’s grow since its inception. The patrol began with just two cars, and now there are five active cars with 30 resident volunteers.

Linda was motivated to improve the community after losing her son four years ago due to senseless violence. She wants other parents to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. “I just want others to open their eyes,” Linda says. She talks about the importance of increasing awareness of community activity, parents must know what their kids are doing.

Linda is a lifetime resident of Southwest Detroit, and currently lives in the house where she grew up. One of her favorite destinations in the neighborhood is Patton Park. She remembers swimming and playing volleyball there as a child. Linda is grateful for that she had such a positive place to spend time at during her youth, and that the park and recreation ​